Introduction
In 2004, under the direction of the Nursing Council of Hong Kong, a working group on establishing the Hong Kong Academy of Nursing was formed. Its objective was to prepare a proposal to submit to the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food (SHWF) of Hong Kong for considering the establishment of a statutory body, namely the Hong Kong Academy of Nursing (HKAN). The proposed HKAN would have the key functions of regulating the practice and promoting the professional development of advanced practicing nurses in specialty areas.
The proposal was developed by a working group comprising nursing leaders and professional bodies in Hong Kong. It set out the views of the nursing community in Hong Kong on the need for a formal regulatory body for specialist practice, as well as the structure and functions of various parts of the proposed HKAN.
The proposal was submitted by the Nursing Council of Hong Kong to the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau in September 2004. Support in principle was given by the Bureau for the direction of the proposed developments; but a detailed proposal to reflect the consensus of the profession was required to meet the different expectations within the profession about long-term nursing specialist development. It was further stressed that profession-wide support, commitment and contributions are critical.
Based on the extensive ground work since 2002, the Preparatory Committee for the Hong Kong Academy of Nursing was set up in June 2006. The Committee has a wide representation with members from 19 professional nursing associations and 4 local universities.